GracePlays & GraceWorks

Fall Creatures

2011-10-11T07:41:00.001-04:00

Can anyone name this lily?

2011-06-26T21:09:00.001-04:00

I thought I’d done a good job of keeping records but this one has me stumped.

Butterfly visits

2011-06-19T07:05:00.000-04:00

It looks like planting the garden to attract butterflies has been a bit of a success. This week brought the first monarch.

There are numerous Great Spangled Fritillary

And this one I cannot name. I have submitted it to Butterflies and Moths for identification. If you know what it is, please share!

This one is called Diana Fritillary. I have not noticed one of this kind visiting before.

And finally here is a West Virginia White. The particular one sadly had expired right outside the door however, one that was very much alive was flying nearby but would not let me get close enough to take a decent photo.

I will continue to watch and see if I can add to the list of visitors.

Cindy Saga One

2010-10-17T17:32:00.001-04:00

In June, Tom announced his adoption of Cindy, the dog he rescued after hearing she’d been abandoned for three weeks by her recently homeless owner. Her past life, as we’ve learned was a chronicle of unsavory circumstances including obvious physical and emotional abuse, twice being hit by a car (one in which her owner backed over her) and an incident with a bear trap set by a disgruntled neighbor who didn’t like her digging in his garden.

When Tom found out about her circumstances during a community meeting, we arrived to check on her. Cindy was sitting quietly, even regally on an old piece of plywood next to a gutted ramshackle log cabin. She was chained to a clothesline running along the adjacent creek with a dilapidated structure put together with wood scraps serving as her “doghouse”.

Tom planned to document his time with Cindy for the Beacon, his company newsletter, but as it turned out, her arrival has not been the pleasant experience he anticipated. Instead, it has come with a hefty price tag not only financially but emotionally. When he looked at me and announced there was no way he could make Cindy’s “still ongoing” story entertaining, I offered to give it a try for him. He is living it in the first person. I however, am able to view it from the third person perspective.

Cindy is one of the sweetest, most respectful, and obedient dogs we have ever had. Tom fondly refers to her as E.T. because that’s who she reminds him of when she looks out at him with her bottomless brown eyes. We think she is a Labrador, boxer mix with a bit of Great Dane (due to her huge front paws).

We’ve never experienced a dog who heels as well as she does! (Keep in mind, we are not skilled trainers!) That is, until she catches the scent of something ! Like a bolt of lightening, she hits the woods with a speed that is shocking considering her normal sedate pace! The first time this happened, we are out in the woods near our home when she rockets off down a very steep embankment into a dense thicket of underbrush. Immediately, Tom heads in after her. I go in the opposite direction calling her. I circle back to where she disappeared and there she is, waiting for me. Meanwhile, Tom is traversing steep slopes and thorny bushes trying to find her. He can’t hear me call to him and comes out of the trees scratched and bleeding with a frantic look on his face only to discover the two of us waiting patiently for him to return. He was not amused.

Unfortunately Cindy’s story has also been somewhat of a nightmare. In the three months that we’ve had her, she has been to two local Vets at least 10 times, including two overnight stays with the University of Georgia Veterinary Small Animal School in Athens, Georgia. (She probably has a library named after her by now on the UGA campus…)

After she’d been with us for a couple of weeks, our 7^th grandchild, Veronica was born. As is the custom, I was staying with our daughter and her family through the birth and first few days at home. At that same time, Tom was diligently on the hunt for raw pumpkin, as he’d been told by the Vet that it would help jump start Cindy’s digestive system and prevent the horrible wretching and vomiting attacks that were happening every few days. Unfortunately, pumpkins are a “seasonal” entity, and there was absolutely none to be found anywhere in our local area. Tom ended up driving 5 hours in one day just to get pumpkin from a Whole Foods store in Atlanta. While he was there, he stopped in to see his new granddaughter with Cindy in tow on a special bed he had rigged up in his Tahoe. My daughter, understandably, was a bit apprehensive about having a new dog to introduce to her brand new infant. But, as it turned out, Cindy behaved impeccably around the baby (probably because she had puppies herself) and all was well. Tom in the meantime had his case of pumpkin, which, by the way, is still sitting in our pantry as it turns out, it didn’t work and actually made Cindy worse. Cindy is now on a designer diet of duck and potato as she cannot tolerate any other food including every prescription diet ever made.

Keep in mind that Cindy was chained to a line outside with only a makeshift doghouse to protect her from the elements. We assumed she was one of those junkyard dogs who could handle anything. Imagine how we felt the first time it thundered and Cindy jumped a foot in the air. She was obviously terrified and cowered in the nearest corner or ran frantically from window to window. We were there to reassure her but can only imagine what she went through when she was alone outside by herself.

She is deeply attached to Tom as you would expect and has been sleeping with him and our other two rescue dogs Tad & Gallagher. When he leaves, she presses her face to the window and watches his car drive away. She cries for awhile and then finds a place to sit where she patiently awaits for his return.

In true Marley fashion, her loving demeanor is not without its challenges. The first time we put her in a crate, we came home to find her outside of it! There is no way to explain how she managed to extricate herself as the door was still looked and the widest gap we could find was only 5 or 6 inches wide. The next time we attempted leaving her alone, we allowed her to be loose in the guest room. We arrived home to find the door blocked from the inside with torn up carpeting and the window blinds in shreds! That was the last time Tom and I have been out together other than the one visit to Highlands NC to have lunch (at a dog friendly restaurant with Cindy). Trouble is, she got carsick from the winding roads and spent the next couple of days with one of her “spells”. Her episodes are very difficult to watch because she wretches, licks her lips repeatedly, swallows in huge gulps of air and try’s to eat everything in sight including …dried flower arrangements, grass, blankets, clothing…you get the picture. It is hideous. She requires constant vigilant attention to prevent her harming herself or causing damage. Definitely NOT what I signed on for! I’m sure you can imagine the “adult conversations” that have taken place between Tom and I during this time. I’ve been through infancy with our own daughters and I can assure you, it’s not something I relish repeating !

Tom in his typical “I’ve got to fix it” fashion has researched every possible diagnosis, read every medical textbook on small animal gastroenterology and had every possible test known to man and dogs run to figure out what is causing her malaise. After exhausting nearly every test, he has determined that it is a psychological condition. Tom’s even tried a device that releases the scent of a nursing female dog to see if it has a calming effect. Thankfully, these episodes have tapered off although as I write this, I’m asking myself if I should even say this out loud. We’ve gone through so many periods where it looked like we had found the answer only to have it happen again with absolutely no cause that we could determine. We are hoping that time and continuity will eventually stop them for good.

As long as I’ve known Tom, he’s been involved in rescue missions with animals. His wildlife rescue work in Florida included many different creatures—a baby owl, a turtle caught in an unfinished swimming pool (that took 3 hours to rescue), a poisoned anhinga, a huge black vulture with a broken wing from running into a power line, a starving pelican who had swallowed a fish hook on Deerfield Pier and the infamous raccoon (who was supposed to be a baby, but ended up being full grown) from Club Boca’s Nightclub kitchen. He’s also rescued numerous dogs usually at the extreme risk of having me pack my bags and move to my mother’s. (If you knew my mother, you might understand why that hasn’t happened. Just kidding, mom.)

The dogs he has rescued include Simon “the demon” Jack Russell who spent ten years irritating me; Annie the pathetic emaciated stray mother of countless puppies who had gravel in her stomach when he found her lying in the middle of the road after being tossed from a car in front of Newport Center. She joined THREE other dogs already living with us at the time! Luna, the cat, seriously injured from being hung from a chain link fence who lived at the vet’s for a year waiting for someone to adopt her and take care of the injuries that had never healed. Tad, who was put out of a car in the woods near our home, and now Cindy.

As soon as I heard Cindy’s story, I knew it was inevitable that Tom would end up being the one to step up and take responsibility for her. It’s who he is. He considers it his life’s mission.

The saga of Cindy continues although, as I write this, I am able to announce that we’ve been spell free for more than a week. His brother, Jim, is coming up to stay with the animals while we go out to Vegas for our daughter’s wedding 10/10/10. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that all will go smoothly while we’re away.

Endless Sea, Endless See

2010-05-21T06:55:00.001-04:00

On a recent trip to Florida, my daughter and I took a trip to the beach. The beach is not a new experience for me. We lived there for over a decade and I became well acquainted with it. This time was different.

What was it about the beach that moved me so? I believe it had to do with the beauty of the surf…the calming affect of the ebb and flow of the waves and the timelessness of the tides. It put my aging into a bit of perspective.

Aging is not for sissies. I am finding that to be truer and truer as I "grow". Time speeds up in an astonishing fashion. Joints creak and groan in threatening tones. The litany in my head telling me to think young gets drowned out by the whispers everywhere chanting that there is no way to avoid what's happening.

"I will not go quietly into the good night." That famous quote takes on an intimate meaning making contact somewhere deep down inside my psyche.

Yet, much of me is going quietly into the good night. When the panic sets in, I reach for serenity and allow myself to stroll rather than stride; to breathe rather than pant; to relish what is rather than lament what is not. It's an ongoing action because the panic comes often.

It reminds me of what I have not accomplished, it taunts me with all my failures, it goads me with its ghoulish desire to focus on what I'm not rather than rejoice in who I am. It's mean. Just plain mean.

And the wrinkles? Talk about a gang of bullies! They show up everywhere making fun of me. They tweet to the world of my aging. And I know they talk about me behind my back. They send notes to each other and whisper and point at me from the mirror. Wretched wrinkles.

"I could banish you," I say. "You're lucky I let you live. A couple injections of Botox and you'd be gone! "

"But we'd be back!", I hear them chortle. Wretched wrinkles.

Somewhere, some time ago, I read something about cycles and seeing things from a longer focal point; that even human life at some point matches the ebb and flow of the seas and the seasons. I believe that is what this recent trip to the beach was about. It told me that the end of this life which I'm hurtling toward is nothing more than a swan dive into a beautiful cosmic sea which will continue to ebb and flow until the end of time and I will become a part of that splendid symphony.

Morning Light

2010-03-07T06:23:00.000-05:00

There is a mountain pass nearby where the road was obviously cut through the rock. At this time of year, the ice creates an ethereal beauty that I have yet to capture. As I’ve found through my experience with the camera, it’s nearly impossible to convey the real thing when photographing something or someone. But I still make the attempt.

Close to home

2010-02-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

Photography is an activity that has brought me a great deal of joy across the years. Recently, I made a decision to devote more time and energy to it as a creative outlet and a way to communicate without words.

Yesterday, I was all set to drive out into the surrounding area to shoot snow scenes with thoughts of creating four season shots of the same vistas. Something from afar seemed to be beckoning me. As I began to brush the snow off the car, I noticed some amazing images right there in front of my eyes. As it turned out, what I was looking for wasn’t “out there” at all. It was right here, close by, waiting to be noticed.

Where have I been?

2010-01-21T15:49:00.004-05:00

Where have all the flowers gone? That's a good way to describe my mood these past few weeks. I realize that this quiet winter season has a majesty all its own but there is a big part of me that resists dormancy and it seems to grow stronger as I grow older.

The good news this week is that I have been accepted into the upcoming Master Gardener's program. The not so good news is that the novel I've been working on seems to have gone into hibernation! I'm trying to be patient and faithful to the process but it is challenging everything I've got to stay with it.

I call a series of photos I took from my bedroom window, Fire and Ice. I love how the light reflects off the ice on the trees.

There's more time for reading good books at this hibernation time of the year. Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver is a masterpiece!

I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. My typical approach to new books is to wait and buy them used or try and get them from the library. This is one of the few I would not wait for.

I'll be back soon to share my experience with the master gardener's program.

Stay warm and cheerful.

Dawdling and doodling

2010-01-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

Can you dawdle with your caudel

doodle with your noodle?

Dawdle with your poodle?

Can you sketch a doodle

Or doodle a sketch?

Or etch a sketch

That's a game isn't it?

You could etch a doodle

But you can't sketch a dawdle

Or could you?

You could etch or sketch a caudel

Or a noodle or a poodle.

Rather than dawdling with your doodling

Try lingering with your fingering on the keyboard

Soon they may start singering* and swingering*

Instead of lingering…suspended

Try words tended, blended, mended and amended until

they say something splendid.

This dawdling doodle is now ended!

*made up words

Hug

2010-01-03T09:17:00.000-05:00

Hug rhymes with shrug. Can you hug a shrug? Or shrug a hug? You can shrug off a hug. Which would make sense if the hugger is using the hug to humiliate or agitate or dominate the huggee.

Hug rhymes with drug. A hug can be a drug of a beneficial nature. A hug from someone I love is medicine for my inner spots of loneliness and sorrow.

Hug rhymes with bug. Who would want to hug a bug? A mama bug?

Hug rhymes with jug. Why would anyone want to hug a jug unless it contains something one enjoys, like a drug.

Hug rhymes with plug and mug and rug. You could plug a mug with a rug but who would want to?

Hug rhymes with snug which leads to snuggle which leads to more hugging and more snuggling. Yum, yum, yum. I'd much rather snuggle than struggle any time. And I wouldn't want to juggle snuggles in case I dropped them. Wouldn't it be fun to smuggle snuggles away to a safe place where you could snuggle any time you wanted?

Delight

2009-12-13T08:12:00.000-05:00

Delight is something I pay attention to. It's what I find when I speak to my grandchildren or I hear stories from their mom's about their latest escapades. These are what inspire me, make me laugh and wake me up to the wonder and beauty of life.

On a recent visit with Victoria, who is 2 1/2, I was surprised and delighted to witness her spend an unexpectedly large amount of time looking through my Park Seed catalog! She went through page after page exclaiming on the pretty flowers, pointing out her favorite on each. When we got to the herb page she calmly noted without hesitation that the cilantro was a weed.

When I told Laney, who is 8 about hearing a strange sound when we were hiking in the woods recently, she exclaimed, "Oh Grandma, think about what a great story that would make about some odd creature making weird noises in the woods!"

And then there's the time I was having a "vibrant" discussion about something upsetting with my daughter as we were driving along the highway. Lola, who is almost four was listening from the backseat when she reminded me to --"Calm down, grandma. Everybody's friends."

Oh to be able to retain the freshness of a child's perspective! To access the innocence and clarity of wonder before it is blunted and burdened by the weight of time and the expectations of others.

New Eyes

2009-12-07T07:47:00.000-05:00

Creating Children's Picture Books with Elizabeth O. Dulemba opened these naïve eyes to what it takes to write for children. This rich and potent weekend program was offered at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Being one of those ignorant and arrogant people who suffers from the delusion that it would be a piece of cake, it was a major awakening. It feels like opening the door on a vast, subterranean complex where nothing is as it appears on the surface. Those happy, funny, appealing pages that sing to me in the children's book section arrived there due to immense skill, endless determination and raw courage, not to mention amazing talent. These eyes now see them with the impressed and respectful gaze they deserve.

October Bloom Day

2009-10-15T08:38:00.002-04:00

It was with great pleasure that I went out to capture the blooming places this morning. Something about the approach of winter makes these ¨spots of delight¨ even more delightful. I haven´t had the best luck with azaleas here so to find these fall blooms was a treat. I´m sure the generous amounts of rain we´ve gotten is a major factor.

Azalea ¨Autumn Moonlight¨

¨Autumn Embers¨

Iris-¨Harvest of Memories¨ Isn´t that the coolest name??

Echinacea-Sunrise (I believe)

As these lovely blooms provide me with a last dance, the sight of new buds on my spring blooming azaleas reminds me that even though the end of this season is here, a new day will dawn and these lovely blooms will return to sing their songs again.

She's Back!

2009-10-02T08:02:00.002-04:00

Look what I found blooming! She was just taking a little nap.

You may remember, back in May my Clematis Niobe looked like she was a goner, or so I thought.

I cut her back to the ground not expecting to see anything until next spring so you can imagine my surprise and delight to see her return now!

Bloom Day

2009-08-15T20:33:00.008-04:00

Here are my entries for August Bloom Day on time! Thanks to Carol at May Dream Gardens for creating this.

What is this plant?

2009-08-08T11:00:00.001-04:00

Would anyone be so kind as to identify this plant for me?

Tomato troubles

2009-08-01T17:38:00.002-04:00

My idyllic garden is experiencing an overnight trauma. What's going on with the tomatoes? Clearly something is wrong. Here's the question. Do I pick the green fruit? Will it succumb to whatever is happening to the leaves? I appreciate any advice.

Help!!!

Bountiful harvest

2009-07-29T09:09:00.009-04:00

Gosh, it's been too long since I've written. A ten day visit with the grandchildren in Georgia and Florida took up a big part of the time.

The vegetable garden has indeed been a learning experience. It's been a bountiful harvest whether or not we've actually gotten to eat anything. We are taking notes about how to adjust things for next summer.

The broccoli has been a bust. When I saw the thick gray worms on my first stalk, I was pretty much done. My mom encouraged me to just put them in salt water and the worms would be eradicated but there is no way I was going to be able to stomach eating the florets with that visual in my very recent short term memory bank! Sorry. I guess I'm a light weight.

I did harvest about a cup of black beans and planted another run of them. The peas were prolific and the carrots have been a lovely surprise. The beets and radishes did well. There are a few ears of corn developing. Probably about ready to pick but I'm not that sure how to determine that. A friend suggested tying off the top of each ear with a 'rubber' band of nylon which I have done. I'll let you know.

The tomatoes are doing very well although the first one picked, perhaps a tad early, had an icky black spot from some creature I have yet to meet and wasn't all that tasty. Sigh.

I expanded the fence area yesterday in an effort to give the buttercup squash more room as so far it looks great. So does the watermelon! I'm eager to reap the harvest there.

Peppers are doing well but the cucumbers were a big, fat bust. I'll try them again next year.

The artichokes are actually growing this time but quite honestly, I have no idea what to expect…I'm simply watching them unfold and hoping I'll catch on as they develop. If they develop.

The raised beds were a major factor in the success of the garden. We will put two more in next year and build supports for the vines to grow on…right now they've expanded way out into the yard. Yikes.

If anyone has suggestions on keeping the worms off broccoli or keeping the icky black stuff out of tomatoes, I'm all ears…along with the corn…LOL. Sorry…couldn't resist.

One final note: I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to fix the font. Obviously, I was unsuccessful. It's quite annoying. Thanks for bearing with it.

Symphony in Orange

2009-06-22T11:02:00.004-04:00

In one of those rare unexpected circumstances, these images caught my attention. I am thrilled to have caught them. I believe the butterflies are part of the Fritillary(speyeria) family. According to Butterflies of Georgia by Jaret C. Daniels I'm fairly certain these are Aphrodite (aphrodite) or Great Spangled (cybele). Please correct me if I'm mistaken!

The flower, of course is Butterfly Weed (asclepia tuberosa).

Late for Bloom Day June

2009-06-17T06:54:00.006-04:00

A bit late for bloom day but want to share a few of those who are performing their hearts out these days. I want to thank Frances at Faire Gardens for her idea of using Dell Image Expert to put the names right on the photo. I had to shift between that program and windows but it was worth it.I first saw one of these blooming at Highlands Botanical Garden last summer.
I thought I knew what cultivar this Yarrow is but discovered that I was mistaken. It could be Red Velvet but I have no idea if that's correct. Nonetheless, it is spectacular.

Sorry I don't have the cultivar names of these Calla Lilies. They did not bloom last year. There wasn't a sign of them so I thought they were long gone. It was delightful to have them back this year.

The following daylilies are all blooming at the moment. If anyone knows what this first one is, I'd love to know.

And the same for this next one.

Thank you for stopping by.

The Quest for Orange

2009-05-22T08:35:00.011-04:00

Took the camera and made a little trip through the landscape this morning. For years, I've been in love with the color orange in the landscape. The Flame Azalea (Rhododendron Calendulaceum) is far and away my most favorite plant. This year, I was treated to this display in our neighborhood.
I've been attempting to arrange my gardens in color palettes--warm colors in the front and cool colors in the back. I have attempted to fill the front with as much orange as I can summon however, I compromised and added yellow and red. I'm slowly getting the orange "strokes" down. Here is one example which makes me smile whenever I look out the window.

The orange Iris next to the Rose Oso Essy Paprika bush is just what I'm looking for! The second shot is a view of another area with the Paprika rose bush, Lantana (Rocket Fire?) with the Abelia 'Kalidiscope' (Abelia x grandilflora) barely visible behind the rose. You can also see the Rheingold Arborvitae/Thuja whch have a lovely orangish/yellowish cast in the background.

The Honeysuckle and Cross vine are lending their voices to the color scheme nicely.

My white garden is beginning to take shape.

The Kousa Dogwood is a vision. I added the Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) yesterday to a pleasing result, in my opinion. Only one of the six white roses I put in last year seems to be thriving. Not sure what to make of that. The Encore Azalea Moonlight's made a tentative showing earlier but they're not doing nearly as well as I'd hoped. The gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides 'Frost Proof' were not as they perished over the winter. The lavandar bloom is still to come. I planted it in the early stages and neglected to note it's botanical name. When I attempted to research it, I found a couple different varieties: White Provence (Alba) Lavender ((Lavandula intermedia alba) and French Lace (Fernleaf) Lavender (Lavandula multifida). I was concerned when the website advised that it be brought in over the winter! Yikes! I have not done so as long as I've had it which is 3 seasons! I also put in some white zinnia seeds. Wild yarrow and daisies have been allowed to remain in small patches.

The blue area is doing ok but it's hidden behind the well cover so adjustments need to be made.

People who know me know pink is never a color I choose however, I have to admit, this rhododendrun and spirea look lovely together.

I was horrified to see my clematis vine (Nirobe) which was doing so well dead! I don't know if the cold got it or what. I cut it back in hopes that she is sleeping and not gone for good.

The lasagna beds are cooking nicely!

Thanks for sharing my morning walk with me!

No lasagna without a "pan"--raised beds instead

2009-05-06T07:30:00.007-04:00

In an earlier post, I announced that I would be using the lasagna gardening technique for vegetable gardens. I realized as soon as I laid down the first layer of "noodles", actually is was newspaper, that there would be nothing to hold everything together when it rained. We needed a "pan"!

So, off we went to the box store for supplies. Six 8' x 12" boards were purchased to produce two 8 x 4 foot "pans" or beds. I was envisioning having to use a jigsaw to cut the two boards but lo and behold, Tom pulls out a circular saw and has them cut in no time! He's such a wizard!

He also had the idea of buying these metal contraptions for each corner which really made it easy to put together. Again, the power tool wins the blue ribbon...that being the drill that drove in the 10 screws per corner with no trouble at all.

I was shocked to learn at a gardening seminar that if we want to feed two adults for a year from a vegetable garden that we need 1000 square feet of garden! So, our 64 square feet seems like a drop in the bucket. Oh well, if my calculations are correct, this is enough to feed us for a little over three weeks!

It took two loads of mulch and soil (15 40# bags each) to fill up each bed. My back complained but it was worth it to see that pristine black earth sans weeds of any kind ready for business.

We still have to build some sort of fence. I swear I've seen rabbits standing in the shadows watching for the first tiny bit of green to appear so they can sneak in and snack. Grrrrr. Not to worry, I don't mind sharing but they cannot be allowed to steal the whole buffet!

As of today I have planted beets, carrots, onions, broccoli, artichokes, corn, cucumbers, peas, mustard and celery. Tad ate my squash seeds! He pulled the packet out of my purse and monged on them. Is monge a word? I was hoping to have some blossoms for salads at least but now we have to check the "dogwalk" area for any sign of them. Who knew winter squash seeds would be so difficult to come by. I refuse to plant summer squash or zucchini. They're just too prolific for me and I don't like either of them that much. I also put 5 asparagus plants and one tomato plant out in the circle garden. I read that they are a good combination. We'll see.

This lovely valley where we live is full of very experienced and skillful gardeners. It's easy to become intimidated so I practice at averting my gaze as I pass their professional looking fields. I will not be thwarted by envy. That pesky rabbit just ran past my window. I wonder what s/he had for breakfast!

I also have watermelon and potatos planted.

And, this is exciting, the potatos are actually growing!!! I just have to beat the squirrels to them.

Added to the wildlife garden

2009-05-05T08:19:00.005-04:00

This "Cotinus Coggygria Purpureus" or Purple Smokebush was moved from it's spot next to the house to give it plenty of room to display its beauty. In front of it is a cutting from a Spirea which was here when we bought the property. I'm liking the contrast of the chartreuse and purple.

You can barely see the spirea. This is a closeup.

While I wanted to use native plants, Abelia x grandiflora 'Bobbie' and 'Edward Goucher' were chosen as they were advertised as evergreen, butterfly and hummer friendly and deer resistant.

Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue' is a native, attractive to hummers and resistant to deer.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' was put in because it is exactly the color of orange that I love. It looks wonderfully healthy and I'm looking forward to seeing it sing next spring.

I have discovered a great online plant source in LazySSFarms. I've had excellent service and superb product every time I've ordered and their selection is one of the best I've found.

In addition to the seeds, I also transplanted two different kinds of heuchera-'Plum Pudding' and another one whose name I cannot locate...green leaves with red blooms.

That's about it for the circle garden. Next post will be an update on the vegetables.

Marking the losses-enjoying the returns

2009-05-04T07:35:00.004-04:00

Every spring, there is a air of wonder as things that have been invisible all winter return to grace the garden. Generally, they reappear looking healthy and stronger than they did last fall. This year, I was especially diligent about marking the spots where they slept. I used golf tees to remind myself not to pull something as a weed and to make sure they actually came back.

Coreopsis 'RedShift' was one of those that did not survive the winter. Neither of the two I planted made it. Wayside Gardens is replacing both of them. I hope they make it this time.

This happened with Alstroemeria 'Sweet Laura' PP#10,030 last year. After the second replacement failed to produce the lovely flower, I gave up. Another item that did not make it is Clematis tangutica 'My Angel. I was extremely disappointed to learn that it is no longer available through Wayside. I would have preferred the plant over the refund!

Silent but active

2009-05-04T07:14:00.012-04:00

While I haven't been blogging as regularly as I planned, I have been having a fabulous time. A lot has happened and is happening in the garden.

The area next to the road has been a source of frustration for me. It is right over the new septic tank we put in when we built the house and right under the power lines and adjacent to a stand of black walnut trees. What has kept me focused on it is the amazing soil left over after the work was completed. Far too delicious to let go unplanted even with the black walnuts and their volunteers working against me.

I attempted a veggie garden the very first year which, in a word, failed. Last year, I attempted to keep it clear but quickly lost the battle against the weeds. As a result, we had an excellent crop of poke weed, something I knew nothing about. NOW, I know not to let this lovely native anywhere near my garden even if it has medicinal qualities, can be eaten in the early spring and provides food for birds. It has roots as big as my thigh and as deep as China and takes over everything!

This is one of at least 20 roots I've extricated. I know there are more...they actually form mounds under the old quilts I put down as a weed barrier!

I did manage to preserve a small area where I attempted to start some seeds I purchased from the Center for Plant conservation. So far, I've seen no signs of activity except for one survivor which I believe is the ginseng I planted inside a wire mesh. At least I hope that's what I'm seeing. Can you tell what an amateur I am?

This year, I got the idea to make a circle garden/labyrinth and devote the area to wildlife/butterfly and humming bird plants. It's still in the very early stages and will undergo many adjustments, I'm sure but I'm pleased with how it's going. The weeds may take over again but with landscape fabric, straw and old quilts, I'm hoping to at least preserve the general shape. Several packages of annual seeds have been broadcast in hopes that they will help with keeping the wild things at bay as well as providing color and grace. I will be maniacal about the poke. I wouldn't mind a small stand of it at the far corner but I don't think it will acquiesce to that.

Here's a general idea of what it looks like. It's still very rough and needs tons of work. The next post will be about what I've planted in there so far.

Blue Ridge Parkway

2009-04-04T07:36:00.003-04:00

I was supposed to finish pulling the sod out of the plot for the proposed second raised bed when Tom asked if I wanted to take a drive. By all means!

We ended up driving over to Asheville for a late lunch at Carrabas. On the way home, rather than take the fast, crowded route, we opted to take the leisurely, scenic route--the Blue Ridge Parkway. What a gift to have this virtually at our doorstep!

As we all know, the pictures don't come close to conveying the majesty!

A garden when I'm gone

2009-04-03T08:58:00.005-04:00

Tom asked me recently to write down what I want to have happen when I die so that he can honor my wishes. I know, what a morbid subject! However, much as wanted to avoid it, I forced myself to give it some consideration.

Well, this discussion led to discovery. Did you ever stop to think about the impact on the environment traditional burial practices have? Even cremation has to use up large quantities of fossil fuel in order to turn our body into ashes! It really gave me pause. I want my body to return to the earth in the most simple and natural way possible so that it will contribute rather than detract from the wondrous cycle that goes on in our amazing universe. I want it to feed the landscape rather than consume it.

Well, there is a movement called Natural Burial and I like what I'm learning about it. The following is from the website: www.naturalburial.coop. I like it so much, I'm passing it along to everyone I know!

Natural Burial; Simple and Meaningful

A modern natural burial is an environmentally sustainable alternative to existing funeral practices where the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and be recycled into new life.

The body is prepared for burial without chemical preservatives and is buried in a simple shroud or biodegradable casket that might be made from locally harvested wood, wicker or even recycled paper, perhaps even decorated with good-bye messages from friends.

A natural burial ground often uses grave markers that don’t intrude on the landscape. These natural markers can include shrubs and trees, an engraved flat stone native to the area or centralized memorial structure set within the emerging forest that provides places for visitors to sit. As in all cemeteries, there are careful records kept of the exact location of each interment, often using modern survey techniques such as GIS (geographic information system).

Planting native trees, shrubs and flowers on or near the grave establishes a living memorial and helps form a protected wildlife preserve. A completed natural burial preserve is a green place with trees, grasses, and wildflowers, which in turn bring birds and other wildlife to the area.

These sacred and natural places leave a legacy of care and respect for our planet.

Irrigation is not used, nor are pesticides and herbicides applied; instead, a natural burial preserve protects and restores nature while establishing a place where family and friends can visit and be at peace.

Cemetery legislation protects natural burial preserves in perpetuity from future development while the establishment of a conservation easement prevents future owners from altering the original intent for these burial grounds.

Natural burial is a statement of personal values for many people who seek to minimise their impact on the planet. For people who are mindful of the cyclical nature of life, natural burial is a spiritually fulfilling alternative to the conventional funeral.

Two Experiments

2009-02-10T07:10:00.004-05:00

Since vegetable gardening is something I've never done with any success, I'm going to experiment this year with two different methods. I found both of them on Mother Earth News. One of them involves using bags of soil as the "bed". They will be small and relatively easy to reposition if necessary and I can add bags as I go. They won't be very attractive but I can live with that, at least until I have had a chance to experiment with size and placement. I figure Tom can build the raised beds around the bags when I'm ready. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2008-06-01/No-Dig-Garden-Beds.aspx

ELAYNE SEARS

Another method called Lasagna (e?) gardening has caught my attention. I've decided to experiment with that method as well on a small scale. I'm rather excited about it!

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1999-04-01/Lasagna-Gardening.aspx

I'll keep you posted on how these turn out!

Foliage over Blooms

2009-01-22T08:15:00.004-05:00

I am so playing hookey from studying but I wanted to share one more winter gem.It's called Osmanthus 'Goshiki'. I put four of them in front of the deck on the south side of the house. They are very small but very pretty. I'm really looking forward to when they are tall enough to be visible through the railing of the deck from the house.

I watched the Gardener's Diary recently with Erica Glassner who was visiting a garden in Tucker, GA. http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/a-foliage-garden/index.html. I was very intrigued when George Schmid stated that using foliage for color gives you a much longer time to enjoy the vision since most blooms are generally pretty short lived. As much as I adore seeing blossoms, he makes an excellent point and he has my wheels turning in the planning department!

One other thing before I get back to work--witnessing the inauguaration of Barack Obama was incredible. What I will carry with me is the vision of millions of people shoulder to shoulder in frigid temperatures with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts. The ground truly has shifted beneath our feet. I vow to revisit the moment whenever I encounter something petty or divisive to remind myself that we as human beings are indeed capable of working together in making this a more positive and peaceful world with TRUE liberty and justice for ALL.

Down in the Mountains, winter in the garden 2

2009-01-09T07:39:00.012-05:00

This Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox 'Coccineus Group') has far exceeded my expectations. It's tripled in size since we planted it two seasons ago. I was so pleased with it, I attempted to purchase several more plants last summer but the nursery (Greenwood) was unable to fill my order. I will attempt to propagate it myself this year. Not only does it look good, it tastes and smells good, too.

I'm a tiny bit disappointed with the Arborvitae, Rheingold Globe but not much. I adore its color during the rest of the year. I would prefer it be a little more jazzy during the winter but it still provides a nice soft color addition to the garden.

If I need a lift, I have only to look at the slope of Gray Owl Juniper. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it at a nursery in Clayton, GA but couldn't decide where to plant it. I'm so glad I decided to go for broke and cover the back slope outside my office window with these beauties. You can't see them now, but there are two gold thread cypress on the top which I believe will make a breathtaking combination during the dreary winter months.

Down in the mountains-winter in the garden-Part 1

2009-01-07T16:48:00.009-05:00

In an effort to offset the feelings of cabin fever and the final stages of a wretched cold, I took some shots of the winter garden highlighting the gems that are singing their rather lonely songs at the moment.
This first one is Magnolia grandiflora, 'D.D. Blanchard'. I have big plans for this magnolia as it stands in the spotlight position at our entrance. She is small now but one day, she will be magnificent.

I "believe" this one is Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'. She is such a splash color she automatically brings a smile to my face. Definitely a keeper and a repeater!

This next one is Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii' Golden Form. What a lovely lady she is and will be!

Cardinal Red Dogwood ...ahhh...beautiful. I want to find some way to give her a backdrop of deep green. Boxwood perhaps?

There are several more jewels of the winter which I will save for another post. Google Blogger has not been friendly at all this morning; ie: how in the world to fix the fonts! Stay tuned for Part 2 when it will be in a better mood...or I will!

Learning as I go!

2008-12-07T06:30:00.002-05:00

According to Alan Durden, Agriculture Extension, Macon County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension Service it is not Carolina Cherry Laurel, 'Prunus caroliniana' but likely Chinese Privet, 'Ligustrum sinense'. Sigh. So much for my ID capabilities! Alan has been great in identifying several plants for me which is appreciated.

The other plant is Rhus copallina, Winged Sumac or Shining Sumac which is a native as far as I can tell based on this link. http://www.ncwildflower.org/plants/r/rhus_copallina/rhus_copallina.htm

Sadly, I had a nice grove of this which was cut down when the septic tank went in. I had a huge crop of Pokeberry in its place. I will now be on the lookout for new growth!

Reading, Writing and Wondering

2008-12-01T09:09:00.008-05:00

It's snowing here this morning. Here is a shot from my window using the Canon powershot 750. It will be fun to take some macro shots with the EOS Rebel later.

In The Woods by Tana French, is proving to be an immense joy to read. It's not often that I find something so elegantly written, even poetic, while at the same time moving you along with the drama of the story. Hat's off to French! This is the kind of book I'd like to write one day.

We walked the Greenway in Franklin, NC over the weekend. I noticed what I "think" is native cherry laurel growing along the path along with sumac. (Note to self: find out the latin names for both.) Here is a pleasing combination.

Here is a snapshot of one of the pages of the alphabet book.

It has been a love/hate relationship with Adobe Illustrator! I love using the program and learned a lot as I proceeded through the five books, however, it has been excrutiating in that the files seldom save and close correctly! I bought the PC version thinking it would allow both Tom and I to load it and use it. However, it does not appear to be a seamless match. I was hoping to save each page of each book in a PDF file but so far, it's crashed every time I attempted. I was finally able to get some of the pages saved in PNG files but they cannot be editted. The printed version of each book is the only full copy I have. I'm down to taking digitial photos of each page as a "backup"! Ugh. Figuring out how to fix this issue is a major priority.

Enjoy this first December day in 2008!

November morning sky

2008-11-28T19:49:00.003-05:00

These two are taken with EOS Rebel with macro lens.

Last one is from Canon Powershot 750

2008-11-05T07:40:00.002-05:00

It feels different to wake up this morning. There's a sense of positive anticipation. Witnessing Obama's victory last night and listening to his breathtaking speech was beyond inspirational. It makes me want to dig into the massive task that lies ahead for our country. I want to call him up and offer my support in whatever capacity its needed. This has renewed my belief and pride in our country like nothing I've experienced before. We are an amazing people!

Last Dance of the Season

2008-10-19T08:24:00.001-04:00

Clematis blooming in October!
Right before the freeze
Humming a gentle number
Pirouetting in the breeze

It's song will soon be silenced
It's dance will soon be done
For now I listen deeply
To remember when its gone.

Orange surprise

2008-10-11T11:14:00.000-04:00

I have been on a mission to put as much orange into our landscape as possible ever since we moved here.

I was thrilled to see a clump of reasonably orange colored trees at the corner of our yard half concealed by "thick" poison ivy vines. Imagine my surprise and delight to discover that these were sassafras trees! I'd been thinking of purchasing a seedling since visiting the NC Arboretum and seeing one pointed out to me by our guide. Obviously, I have to hone my tree identification skills! The other tree I've "discovered" this fall is a sourwood. They are abundant along the roadsides and are unusually beautiful right now with their wine colored leaves and long strings of seeds, similar to lily of the valley flowers. I was able to obtain a cutting yesterday. I hope it bears fruit. I'll have to wait and see.

I've also planted Ginkgo seeds and Madrones, Arbutus menziesii, which is a long shot since its native to the northwestern US. (See http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=1865) Gardening Gone Wild is the name of the blog where I first saw this amazing looking tree. I'll let you know if I have any success transplanting it to this side of the country.

Playing

2008-05-13T07:43:00.000-04:00

One of the results of a play date with my camera for an online class.

Why I volunteer for Mountain Mediations

2007-12-17T08:03:00.000-05:00

Volunteering for Mountain Mediation Services has certainly been a rich experience. It has given me a variety of encounters which have benefited me personally as well as allowed me to serve the community in what I hope is a useful way.

When I saw the ad in the Franklin Press about the Mediation training in March, 2004, I was immediately drawn to it. At the time, I was part of a community that was literally being torn apart by discord. I was eager to learn a way that would prevent such a thing from happening again. I also come from a family that has suffered from the inability to work through differences. Instead, relationships were irrevocably harmed. My father died without ever resolving a dispute with his brother and sister. I’ll never forget how I felt when I saw them at his funeral knowing he had died estranged from them. They were now beyond any hope of reconciliation.

The mediation training was conducted by two skilled mediators and teachers, Betty McCrae and Victoria Young. There were about twelve of us in the class. Betty and Victoria presented the material in a lively and interesting manner making it easy to learn the elements of conflict resolution in a non-threatening manner. We were then given the opportunity to practice at being mediators resolving conflicts that were based on cases that could easily occur in any community through role play with our fellow students. It was an enjoyable way to learn and to begin to get comfortable with the process.

Following the training, there was an orientation followed by opportunities to observe experienced mediators before taking on the role. MMS has mediators work in teams of two. It creates a dynamic where we help each other focus on the issues at hand while ‘covering” for each other if one of us happens to get into a rough patch.

The cases that I’ve co-mediated cover a large gambit of issues. Everything from fighting between students, misunderstandings between spouses, discord among neighbors, families adjusting to new members, tension between employees, disputes between business owners and customers—the list is as diverse as the people who live in our community. Even if a resolution isn’t reached, the participants get the opportunity to say what they need say and to hear the viewpoint of the others.
Another aspect of volunteering with Mountain Mediation Services is the opportunity to participate in training students and teachers about conflict resolution. I have often said that I wish I would have learned conflict resolution when I was young. It would certainly have been a useful skill to have in a variety of settings, most especially as a parent and a spouse! I feel very strongly that learning, teaching and practicing these skills has the potential of changing the world. It’s one of the best ways I have come across to promote peace.

It seems to me that much of what we encounter throughout our days gives one the impression that we are a divided society. Controversy and division seem to provide the drama that sells newspapers, and gains viewers and listeners. I have often said that I would like to see the elements of mediation exhibited more prominently in the public discourse. Instead of everything being geared to who will win such as we get in sports and politics, wouldn’t it be great to witness situations where instead of spending all the time arguing, people could learn to look for common ground, share their experiences and their knowledge and work together to create a solution that brought about positive change?

Vines and Wild Roses

2007-12-13T06:50:00.000-05:00

12/12/07 8:41 AM
I just altered my typical routine and went outside to “play” rather than ride the exercise bike. It’s been so mild here that I wanted to take advantage of it. I decided to start small and ended up clearing the section along the drive at the entrance to our house. There were lots of wild rose vines and roots out there. They had pretty much taken over the entire area before we put the new septic tank in and they’re starting to grow back with great energy. My mother used to play the song, “To A wild Rose” (Schumann: Concerto, Op.54/MacDowell: Concerto No.2/To A Wild Rose) on the piano when I was growing up. It’s a lovely song. One of my father’s favorite scripture verses was “I am the Vine and you are the branches”(John 15:5). There are lots of vines out there in the thicket. In addition to the roses, there are wild strawberries, greenbriar, and a couple others I have not identified although Tear Thumb vine and Porcelain Berry are two possibilities from the little research I’ve done. That got me to thinking about vines. Here I am enthusiastically pulling up vines and wild roses, two things that held great meaning for my parents. I realized that what is meaningful to me right now is eradicating those wild roses and those vines. The roses are very thorny and stick to you leaving long scratches on your skin if you’re not careful. The other vines can stifle the life out of everything else around you not to mention the poison ivy vines that can leave you with painful rashes. If you’ve ever been attacked by poison ivy or oak, I don’t have to tell you the level of harm they can cause. I also found, to my dismay, that a vine cakked Lygodium had taken over 40,000 acres of the LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE and was moving at a ferocious pace It was essentially suffocating all the native plants living there. (http://news.ufl.edu/1999/11/12/fern-2/)

So there it is, the good memories of the meaning of wild roses and vines from the examples and teachings of my parents and my real life experience of the darker side of both. I wonder if all this is about making room, clearing space, expanding boundaries so that both aspects can be part of the picture. I think it might also be about balance and moderation. Anything that gets out control and starts to take over everythig in its path is a hazard. It was great fun to pull out those wild roses and those suffocating vines. Hard work, yes, but also greatly satisfying.

Starting out

2007-11-27T11:40:00.000-05:00

This blog is where I'm going to practice the art of playing.

Playing is not something that was deeply encouraged in my earlier life. If there was one refrain I heard often, it was "help your mother". I took that to heart.

Yesterday, I spent some time outside "playing" in the dirt. I got out my pitchfork and started to dig up the enormous roots that were living just under the surface of my garden which is now completely bare on the surface. This has given me a new respect for weeds and their accompanying roots. As a matter of fact, there is one I was unable to eradicate! I believe it may seriously be on its way to China!

Believe it or not, it was fun to be out there playing away at plowing up the earth one shovel full at a time.

I'd love to hear how you play as long as its moral, ethical and legal!